Youth Unemployment Hits 20%

Peter Levine notes that youth unemployment (16 - 19) has hit a shocking 20%.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for ages 16-19 was over 20% in October. For ages 20 and older, the rate was 5.9%.

Youth unemployment, seasonally adjusted

The great thing about Levine's post is that he offers a fairly simple policy prescription to - if not solve this problem - cut down on youth unemployment.

Unemployed youth are not only missing income and benefits. They are also losing crucial opportunities to develop skills, networks, habits, and experience. The Kennedy-Hatch Serve America Act is certainly not the whole solution, but I think it should be passed quickly as an element of the economic recovery plan. It is an efficient way to give as many as 250,000 young people highly educational work experiences. They will also exemplify public work for Americans of all ages.

Maybe that's something to look at as part of a 100 Days Agenda . . .